Overview

• Clinicians say a lowered gaze while walking is often linked to insecurity, low self‑esteem or shyness as a way to avoid eye contact and social judgment.
• This posture can also align with sadness or depression, especially when coupled with a hunched stance and persistent low mood.
• Specialists note it may simply reflect introspection, concentration or momentary distraction rather than any underlying disorder.
• Cultural norms shape meaning, since avoiding direct eye contact can convey respect or modesty in some settings but be read as disengagement in others.
• Articles advise seeking evaluation if the habit is persistent and appears alongside social withdrawal, mood shifts, anxiety or fatigue, emphasizing that definitive conclusions belong to mental‑health professionals.